Multistage open heater



June 4, 1929. A R. c. JONES MULTISTAGE OPEN HEATE original. .Filed July28, 1924 2 Shees-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 4, 1929. A R. C. JNS1,715,456

MULTISTAGE OBEN HEATER original Filed July 2s, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 NvENToR ATTORNEY Patented J une 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

RUSSELL C. JONES, OF BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR TO THE GIULSCGMrukRUSSELL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OFDELAWARE. I

MULTISTAGE OPEN HEATER.

Application 1ed Ju1y 28, 1924, Serial No- 728,654. Renewed September 17,1928.

The present invention relates to a steam generating system and has to doparticularly with the preliminary heatingl of feed water on its way tothe boilers.

5 The auxiliary apparatus and other steam utilizing devices of apowergenerating plant invariably furnish a considerable quantity ofrelatively low pressure steam which must be utilized in the system inorder to avoid heat losses. This quantity of steam is usuallyaccommodated by passing it into heat transferring relation with theboiler feed water, thus imparting to the feed water before it enters theboiler` heat Which-would be lost if the heating fluid were discharged toWaste. Modern steam power plant practice tends toward the use in theheating' of boiler feed water of both exhaust steam from the variousapparatus of the plant and steam withdrawn or bled at differentpressures fromvarious stages of the-plant turbine. AccordingL to thecommon prevailing practice, each of the different sources of steam ispassed independently into heat exchanging relation with thev boiler feedwater. The boiler feed water is passed into heat transferring relationwith the respective sources of heating steam in the order of theirascending` pressures and temperatures, that is, the feed water firstreceives heat from the vsource of steam at the .lowest pressure and issuccessively treated by the other sources of steam at successivelyhigher pressures. Each operation of transferring heat between theheating steam and the boiler feed water is'conducted as anindependentloperation in a separate surface type heat exchanger providedfor the purpose. It is an object of this invention to rovide a heaterfor preheating the boiler feed water which is adapted to receive steamfrom the plant turbine, or other sources, at different .Y pressures andutilize to advantage the ava-ilable heat of s uch`steam, yet whichinvolves.

but a single unitary apparatus possessing the distinct advantages ofmoderate initial cost, minimum space requirements, notable operatingeiiiciency and convenience of operation. In steam generating systems ofthe typereferred to the supply of boiler feed water com- 5.o-lmo'nlyconsists of low temperature turbine condensate together with whateverWater from the evaporators is necessary to supply the required make-upof the system. The

ll-'heating steam is commonly exhaust steam thus effecting the heattransfer by direct con-y Y tact of they fluids. I The inventioncontemplates the provision of a' plurality of compartments in the openheater. The heating vfluids from the several.

sources are admitted to the respective coin- -pa rtments at theirrespective pressures and suitable provision is made for passingtheboilerfeed Water thru the respective compartments in series relation.The Huid whichis pumped from each compartment to the next.

succeeding compartment consists of the Huid which was initiallyadmittedto thecompartment and in addition the condensate produced by the heatingsteam-which was admitted to that compartment and which was condensed byreason of its water.

It is an object of the invention to arrange the various chambers orcompartments in which the heat transfer takes place in such contact withlthe cold feed eov fashion that the apparatus has avmarked iexibilitv ofdesign, thus adapt-ing it for incorporation into whatever space' isavailable, and in such fashion that transfer of fluid from one chamberto the next may be conveniently and effectively accomplished. Incarrying out this idea, the compartments are arranged at the sameheight, so that the number of compartments may be increased byincreasing the lateral dimension, for instance the diameter, oftheiheater.

yIt is a still further object of the invention to provide a multi-stageopen heater of the class referred to of such construction that danger ofwater from the heater backingup into the turbine or other apparatuswhere it would cause damage is effectively avoided. To this end theliquid in each of the heat transferring chambers-is introduced atsubstantially the pressure of the incoming heating steam. As a furtherprecaution. one embodiment ofthe invention contemplates an overflowcontrol adapted to discharge water fromeach chamber into the next lowerchamber in case an excessive amount of liquid accumulates.

Byway of example I have illustrated in the aceompanyingdrawings anapparatus embodying my invention. In said drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical section of a feed water heater embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1;l I

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections taken rFespectively on line 33 andline 4 4 of Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modified form of heater;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the modification shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 5.V A

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the containing shell or housingof the heater and 2 is a vertical partition placed diametrically4 of theshell to divide the heater into two compartments A and B. The boilerfeed water is admitted through the feed line 3 and is discharged intothe upper end of compartment A through theinlet 4 from whence itindsit's way down through the apparatus and accumulates in the bottom ofthe compartment. the feed-line 3 regulates for a substantially constantliquid level in the compartment A. Heating steam is admitted through theinlet line 7 and circulates about freely within the compartment A cominginto direct contact with the cold incoming feed water to thereby impartits availableheat to the feed water and at the'same time be condensedand` mingled with the feed water in the form of liquid condensate.

In order to facilitate the intermixture of.

the heating steam and the feed Water'andfto accomplish an efiicient andeffective heat transfer between the two mediums, special revision ismade for distributing the incoming liquid throughout the compartment.The incoming water entering through the inlet 4 falls into a compartment8 formed between terposing a sheet of liquid between the steam.

inlet 7 and the air vent 13 thus'making it impossible for steam toescape through the vent 13 without rst passing into intimate contactwith the incoming liquid.

The overflow from chamber 8 is accommodated ina chamber 14 formedbetween the annular partition 10 and the outer wall of the shell 1. Thebottom of chamber 14 is also A float 5 operating a valve 6 in' One ortwo rows of perforations 12 perforated to discharge liquid down intocompartment A as a curtain of falling rain and it is from chamber 14that the greater portion of the liquid will ordinarily be discharged.The smaller 'chamber 8 is provided particularly'for operation at lightloads to insure a complete curtain of falling liquid through which theheating steam must pass before it can escape from the heater. Atlightloads, if the annular partition 10 were not employed .and theincoming liquid were not discharged into the chamber 8, the incomingliquid might have some tendency to spread out in a layer on plate 11.butl most of the liquid would pass through the plate at a pointsubstantially beneath the inlet 4 and lthe supply of incoming waterwould not be sufficient to form a closed curtain of falling dropsextending entirely around the chamber and thus presenting a solidcurtain of water with which the heating steam must contact.

With this situation, it would be possible for steam to find its waythrough the gaps in the curtain of falling liquid and escape uncondensedthrough the outlet 13. A perforated distributing plate '35 may beprovided to check the falling liquid and redistribute it Cil beforepermitting it to pass on to the principal body of liquid in the lowerportion of the compartment. The steam entering at the inlet 7 circulatesabout as indicated by the arrows coming into intimate contact with thefall ing liquid until it isconipletely condensed.

Uncondensible vapors rise to the top of the shell and ind their way outat the vent 13.

"Ihe boiler feed water is passed successive- 'lys through compartments Aand B. The feed water entering compartment. A is heated by reason of theheating steam supplied to that compartment and this Vheated water,togetherwith the condensed heating steam formed in the compartment whichhas become intermixed with the original supply of feed water, iswithdrawn at the bottom ofthe compartment. A through the discharge line1,5 and by means of a suitable pump 16 is passed through line 17 intothe upper end of compartment B in the same fashion as in compartment A.Heating steam for compartment B is admitted through inlet line 18 andimparts its available heat to the supply of partially heated liquidentering from compartment A. In compartment B the feed water is furtherheated and is augmented by the condensate derived from the heating steamsupplied to this compartment.. The

liquid, consisting of feed water and comthe main turbine is used forheating the boiler feed Water, the feed Water may be heated successivelyby steam at atmospheric pressure from the exhaust steam line of theplantand byv bleeder steam from the turbine at some otherpressure, say,at 3 0 lbsyper square inch absolute. In this instance, the steam atatmospheric pressure would be admitted to compartment and the heatedfeed Waterl from compartment A to'gether'vvit-h the'condensed exhauststeam' would then be transferred into compartmentv B, which compartmentwouldreceive the bleeder steam at 30 lbs. per square inch pressure.l4The compartments 'A and-B are maintained respectively at substantiallythe pressures f the respectivesources of heatingsteam. The pump .16serves to transfer the IWater from the low er to the higher pressure. Bythus maint-ain-l ing eachpOmpartment of the heater at substaniiially thepressure of the incoming heat- 5 5 ".f'time, the heating steam isordinarily passed ing steam, danger of backing up of the .Water v'intothe turbine or other apparatus furnish- ,ingthe heating steamisa-voided. In bleeder stearn heaters commonly in'use atthe presentinsidethe heating tubes and the water surrounds the tubes at a muchhigher pressure 'than is maintained inside the tubes. VVit-h `sult inthedischarge of a large quantity of high pressure water into the steamspace,`

this situation, a leaky tube may readily re-v .'With the result that theWater 4will back up ."into the'turbine and probably cause serious 35 i AI damage to the turbine rotor.

' For the purpose 'of controlling the supply of-.steam admitted to therespective compartrnents of the heater, an orifice may be successfullyused. I have here shown an orifice' plate so interposed in the heatingsteamV 'line at the point Where the heating steam enters the heater. Theorifice plate is inserted at a joint in. the piping and contains acircular oriiiceA of predeterminedsize adapted` to deliver the properamount of steam into` the heater. 'lhe pressures of th'e respectivesupplies ofl heating steam remain substantially constant and, with thiscondition, a con- .stant flow of heating steam into the respectivecompartments will be maintained by means of the controlling orifice. Itwill be understood, however, that the orifice control l is merely amatter of convenience and is not essential to the operation of thedevice.

The apparatus shown .in Figures 5 to'7 is provided with threecompartments vseparated by verticalpartitions 2 extending the length ofthe shell 1. Gold liquid and heat.- ing steam at different pressures areadmitted to the various compartments in the same fashion as abovedescribed and float con.-

trolled valves are provided for maintaining a substantially constantliquid level in each compartment. The feed Water is preferably pumpedthrough the three compartmentsin.

succession, the liquid leavingbeach comparte'A ployed is ordinarily4free fromimpurities,

suitable provision may-bemade for separating oil. from the steam orWater from low pressure steam before admission tothe heater if desired.Other changes may be made within the scope of theappended claims.-

Iclaim.: l 'l 1. In a steam generating system, a heater for heatingboiler feed water comprising a vertical Acylindrical tank subdividedvertically by partitions into ajplurality of'compartments, .meansl forsupplying" heating steam at prgressively higher'pressures to saidrespectivevcompartments, and means for passing boilerfeed `watersuccessively through 'saidcompartments and a capfor the upper end ofsaid .tank having vertical partitions corresponding in position to thepartitions inA said tank, and forming compartments in said capcorresponding tothe compartments of the tank, each of said compartmentshaving an outlet for uncondensii'" ble gasesand an inlet for water to beheated surrounding said gas outlet, and means associated-with each ofsaid water inletsfor distributing the incoming Water in a curtain ofspray surrounding the gas outlet. g 2. Ina steam generating system, aheater for'heatin 4.boiler feed water comprising a vertical.cylindrical4 tank subdivided vertically bypartitions into a pluralityvof compartments', means for lsupplying heating. steam at progressivelyhigher pressures tosaid respective'compartments, a cap for the upper end'of said tank having-vertical partitions corresponding'in position 'tothe partitions in said tank and forming compartments in said capcorrespondin to the compartments of the tank, each o said. compartmentshaving an outlet for uncondensible gases and an inlet for water to beheated surrounding said gas outlet, means associated with each of saidwater inlets for distributing the incoming -water'in a curtain of spraysurrounding the gas outlet, water outlet connections for thecompartments of said tank, Water inlet connections for the compartmentsof the cap, and an external pipe joining one f said outlet connectionsWithone of said inlet connections, and means therein for increasing thecally by partitions into a plurality of com' partfments, means forsupplying heating steam at progressively .higher pressures to saidrespective compartments, and means for passingboiler reed Watersuccessively through said compartments, each ofsaid.

compartments having an outlet near the top thereof for uncoiideiisiblegases 'and an inlet for ivater to be heated surrounding said gas outlet,and means associated with each of said water inlets-for distributing theincomingr Water iii a curtain of spray surrounding the gas outlet. A i

4. In a steam generating system, a. heater for heating boiler feedlwater comprising a. vertical cylindrical tank' subdivided vertically bypartitions into a plurality of compartments, means' for supplyingheating steam at progressively higher pressures to saidrespectivecompartments, eacli'or` said compartments having an `outletnear the top thereof for uncondensible gases and an inlet for water tobe heated surroundin said gas outlet, means associated -With eac of saidwater inlets for -distributingthe incoming water in a curtain of spraysurrounding the gas outlet, and means comprising a series- 'flowexternalpipe arranged between two of said compartments which are atprogressive-- ly higher pressures, and'means therein or increasing thepressure on the'boiler feed Water to substantially the pressure of thecompartment having the higher pressure.

5. In a steam generatingfsystem, a heater for heating boiler feed Watercomprising a vertical .cylindrical tank subdivided vertically bypartitions in'to afpluralityof compartments, means for supplying heatiiig steam at progressively liighoi pressures to said respectivecompartments, cach ot'lsaid compartments having an outlet near the .topthereof :for uncondensible gases and an inlet for water to lic' heatedsurrounding said gas outlet, means associated with each of said Waterinlets for distiibutingtlie incoming Water in a curtain of spraysurrounding the gas outlet, and means' comprising a series-flow eX-tei-nal pipe arranged between two of said compartments which are atprogressively higher pressures, and a pump therein for increasing thepressure on-the boiler eed water to'substantially the pressure of thecompartment having the higher pressure.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RUSSELL. o. JONES.

